Jelissa Edwards
Oshkosh, WI
I am extremely disappointed with the screening policies at Bella Clinic since their merger with Vida Clinic. I sought care simply to determine how far along I am in my pregnancy—something that should be straightforward and accessible. Instead, I was met with excessive screening practices that relied on medical history from over a decade ago, despite the fact that I have had multiple successful pregnancies after that one incident. This history has never been an issue in the past, including during previous ultrasounds I received at Bella Clinic before the merger. The experience felt unnecessarily obstructive, almost as if the clinic was finding reasons not to provide care rather than prioritizing patient advocacy and access. Women deserve timely medical attention, not barriers—especially during pregnancy. As a Black woman, this experience was particularly disheartening. There is already a shortage of providers who truly support women and minorities in the community, and policies like these only widen that gap. Care should be rooted in current medical context, not outdated information that no longer reflects a patient’s health or outcomes. I strongly encourage leadership and the medical director to reevaluate these screening practices. What once felt like a supportive and accessible clinic has become the opposite. Women deserve better. We deserve advocacy, not obstacles.
